DAY I: 20 November

08:30 - 09:00

Guest Arrival and Registration

09:00 - 09:05

Workshop Objectives and Programme

09:05 - 09:25

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Randa Aboul-Hosn, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt

Dr. Nagwa Ebrahim Elshenawy, Chief of ICT Division, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Egypt

09:25 - 09:40

Icebreaker and Introductions: What is your understanding of digital transformation?

Session objectives:

-          Brief self-introduction of participants [Name, Post/Unit, Two lines on digital transformation]

-          Explore the range of concepts development practitioners attach to the term.

-          Gather insights on participants’ expectations of the workshop (what they expect to learn or share on digital transformation).

Facilitated by Tomoko Vazeer, Programme Analyst, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States

09:45 - 11:15

Session I

Digital governance: The evolution of digital technologies alongside governance trends and issues; Key concepts, issues and trends

Session objectives:

-          General overview/global-regional perspectives.

-          Build common understanding of scope of workshop theme through an overview of the evolution of digital governance and digital transformation in the context of development.

-          Demystify “e” terms, deepen understanding of key concepts such as e-Government, e-Governance, e-Republic, etc.

Session format [Presentations with Davos-style discussions and Floor Interaction]

·        Framing remark/presentation [5-7 min]: Global overview; Evolution of Estonia as world’s first e-Republic

Hannes Astok, Deputy Director, Director of Development and Senior Advisor, E-Governance Academy, Estonia

·        Remarks/Presentations [5 minutes each speaker; 30 min]

1.       Government (Digital development, digital economy, global-regional linkages and trends): Dr. Nagwa Ebrahim Elshenawy, Under-Secretary, Egypt MICT

2.       UN Regional Commission: Nawar Al-Awa, Regional Adviser for Technology for Development, UN ESCWA 

3.       Civil Society: Emily Middleton, Head of International Development, Public Digital, United Kingdom,

4.       Private Sector/Mobile Tech Industry: Amr Hashem, Lead for MENA Region, GSMA

5.       Youth/Cross-Region: Ted Chen, Founder, Evercomm Singapore (Asia’s 30 Under 30); UN Liaison, Nanyang Technical University/Smart Nation Centre; Focal Point for Science and Technology, UN Major Group on Children and Youth

6.       Private Sector/Investments: Dr. Ashraf Abdel Wahab, SAP Egypt

·        Moderated Davos-style discussion [35 min]

·        Moderated Q/A with floor [20min]

11:45-12:00

Coffee break

12:00 – 13:00

Session II (Extended from the first session): Emerging technologies, trends and issues

Session objectives:

-          Highlight emerging technologies, trends and issues of relevance to or seen as priorities in the region.

Session format (Presentations with floor interaction)

·        Brief framing remark/Moderator: Hannes Astok, Deputy Director, Director of Development and Senior Advisor, E-Governance Academy, Estonia [5 min]

·        Presentations [~7minutes each speaker; 30 min]

1.       Digital Governance and Transformation: Mustafa Ahmed Ali Al Mahdi, Programme Administrator, International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

2.       Cybersecurity-legal aspect: Dr. Nibal Idlebi, OIC Technology for Development Division, UN ESCWA

3.       Smart Cities/Nation (Asia), Smart Energy: Ted Chen, Founder, Evercomm Singapore (Asia’s 30 Under 30); UN Liaison, Nanyang Technical University/Smart Nation Centre; Focal Point for Science and Technology, UN Major Group on Children and Youth

4.       Digital Skills: James Stewart, Digital Transformation Expert, Public Digital

5.       Q&A [20 min]

13:00 – 14:00

Lunch Break

14:00 --15:15

Session III: Digital governance and transformation [Overview of UN/UNDP perspectives and efforts]

Session objectives:

-          Digital governance and transformation: Perspectives, efforts and relevant mechanisms in the UN/UNDP.

-          Demonstrate how progress on digital transformation enables progress across the 2030 Agenda, in particular Leaving No One Behind and inclusive participation.

-          Highlight how digital transformation can foster an enabling environment for inclusive governance (particularly open government and how that is understood or advanced in the region).

Session format: Presentations with floor interaction

·        Framing presentation/Moderator:  Overview of global trends and UNDP work in this area through the years (5 min)

Minerva Novero-Belec, Policy Specialist, Governance [Digital Governance, Cities and Transformation] UNDP BPPS New York/HQ

·        Presentations on key areas [5 mins each speaker; 30 min]

1.       Open Government for SDGs Achievement: Dr. Nibal Idelbi, Officer in Charge, Technology for Development Division (TDD), UN ESCWA

2.       Changing Demographics and Changing Nature of Work:  ILO/IOM (TBC)

3.       E-Service Delivery: Fatima Elsheikh, RR Djibouti, UNDP, UNDP CO

4.       e-Government: Policy Specialist, Public Administration, UNDESA NY (Skype; TBC)               

5.       Food Security: Walaa El Shabrawy, Regional Programme Cash-Based Transfers Officer, WFP Cairo

6.       Digital Development: Dany Wazen, ICT Coordinator, UNDP RBAS Regional Hub

·        Moderated discussions with Q/A [25 min]

15:15 -15:30

Coffee Break

15:30 - 17:00

Session IV: Case Study-- The Estonia-UNDP Cooperation on Digital Transformation

Session objective:

·        Introduction of the Cooperation and its work, update on the development of the diagnostic tool

Session format: Presentations with floor interaction

·        Framing remarks: Estonia and UNDP (7-10 mins)

Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs (TBC)

Hannes Astok, Deputy Director, Director of Development and Senior Advisor, E-Governance Academy Estonia)

·        Presentations [35 min]

1.       Overview of Cooperation and Approach: Minerva Novero, Policy Specialist, Governance [Digital Governance, Cities and Transformation], UNDP HQ      

2.       Diagnostic Tool Methodology: Devika Iyer, Policy Specialist, Inclusive Growth, UNDP Regional Hub

3.       E-Governance Survey: Marit Lani, Project Manager, E-Governance Academy, Estonia

4.       Cooperation Approach and Cities  

·        Q&A [15min]

17:00

Wrap Up of First Day and Closing Remarks

19:00

Social Event

DAY II: 21 November

08:30 - 09:00

Guest Arrival and Registration

09:00 - 09:05

Welcome, Recap of Day 1, Overview of Day 2

Tomoko Vazeer, Programme Analyst, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States

09:05-10:30

Session V: Pulse on the ground: Country experiences on digital governance and transformation

Session objectives:

-          Showcase examples of digital transformation in the Arab States.

-          Highlight key trends and achievements on digitalization to strengthen good governance in the region and lessons learned.

Session format: Presentations with floor interaction

·        Framing Remarks and Moderator: Devika Iyer, Policy Specialist, Inclusive Growth, UNDP Regional Hub for Arab States

·        Presentations (60 min)

1.       Etab Al Takee, Programme Specialist, UNDP Syria

2.       Sherif El Tokali, Innovation Specialist, UNDP Somalia

3.       Moez Kloula, UNDP Tunisia

4.       Ali Kamouna, Head of Karbala office, UNDP Iraq

5.       Chafika Affaq, Programme Analyst, UNDP Morocco

6.       Anisha Thapa, Team Coordinator, UNDP Sudan

·        Q&A/Discussions [15 min]

10:30-10:45

Coffee Break

10:45 - 11:35

Session VI: Cybersecurity

-          Concepts and development of a National Cybersecurity Strategy.

Session format: Presentations with floor interaction

·        Framing remarks/Facilitator: Dr. Nibal Idelbi, Officer in Charge, Technology for Development Division (TDD), UN ESCWA [10 mins]

·        Presentations [30 min]

1.       Marit Lani, Project Manager, E-Governance Academy, Estonia

2.       Dr. Pascal Bou Nassar, Chief Information Security Officer, Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie

·        Q&A [10 min]

11:35 – 12:40

Session VII:  Panel presentations – Practices focused on data collection to monitor progress toward achieving the SDGs

Session objectives:

-          Demonstrate how progress on digital transformation enables enhanced monitoring of progress toward achieving the SDGs.

-          Highlight how progress on digital transformation enables capturing disaggregated data at the sub-national level to ensure no one is left behind.

-          How to establish statistical data system, SDG monitoring tool, ADP, How to use big data to promote development.

Session format: Presentations with floor interaction

·        Framing remarks/Moderator: Etab Al Takee, Programme Specialist, UNDP Syria [10 mins]

·        Presentations [40 min]

1.       Layal Wehbeh, Arab Development Portal Project Coordinator, UNDP Lebanon

2.       Etab Al Takee, Programme Specialist, UNDP Syria

3.       Ahmad Hassan, Planning and International Cooperation Syira

4.       Mohamad Nawar Al Awa, Regional Advisor on Technology for Development, UN ESCWA

5.       Hazem Galal, Partner PWC, 5G mobility data and sustainable development

6.       Nouri Lajmi, Président, HAICA and Abelkhalek Lazreg, Journalist, fact-checking service at Tunisian Radio

·        Discussions/Q&A [15 min]

12:40 – 12:55

Reflections, Wrap up and Next Steps

-          Identify needs and gather recommendations on priority next steps

12:55 – 13:00

Closing remarks

13:00-14:00

Lunch

14:00-17:00

Internal Discussion [UNDP]/Bilateral Meetings/Networking